Exclamation Team

"Next up is the eighth One-on-One Soul Fight of the day here at our Twenty-First Soul Fighting Arena!"

"Entering the arena are two Soul Grand Masters: first, the man on a nine-match winning streak, Chang Sheng! And his opponent, also on a nine-match winning streak, Le Bai!"

"I'm sure you've all heard of Le Bai. That's right! He is the first, and one of only two, Support System soul masters to ever compete in a One-on-One Soul Fight at the Great Soul Arena and emerge victorious! And he achieved this with a nine-match winning streak that speaks volumes of his strength!"

"But today, Le Bai faces a formidable opponent. Will he be able to continue his winning streak and once again defy the common wisdom that Support System soul masters lack combat power? Let us wait and see!"

Le Bai walked onto the stage wearing his Mask, while his opponent, the man named Chang Sheng, emerged from the opposite tunnel.

"Ha! So you're the freak who insists on entering One-on-One Soul Fights despite being a Support System soul master!"

Chang Sheng was a young man, looking to be in his twenties with an average appearance, though a scar on his face gave him a somewhat vicious look. "Looks like I'll be getting my tenth-win bonus easily today! Hahahaha!"

The host announced at the perfect moment: "The Soul Fight begins!"

Before the host's voice had even fully faded, and before Chang Sheng could even activate his Martial Soul, Le Bai had already left a footprint on the ground, dashed in front of Chang Sheng, and slapped him straight into the wall.

If Le Bai hadn't slightly controlled his strength, the scene would have likely required blurring.

Having dealt with his opponent, Le Bai immediately turned and headed back through the tunnel he had arrived from.

Behind him came the announcement of his victory, followed by a brief silence and then a roar of cheers.

By the time Le Bai returned to where Oscar and the others were waiting, 4 minutes and 57 seconds had passed.

"You actually came back. I thought you'd just run away!"

Seeing Le Bai return, Ning Rongrong raised an eyebrow and spared no effort in her mockery. "Looks like you got lucky and ran into a very weak opponent."

"If you enjoy saying things like that, feel free to say more."

Le Bai smiled and retorted: "Otherwise, once I start producing results, you'll have to start changing your tune, and then you won't be able to say these annoying things anymore."

Ning Rongrong wasn't yet capable of retorting with a smile like Le Bai. She snorted, tossed her head, and took the initiative to walk toward the front desk: "Let's go register!"

Le Bai made a ╮(╯▽╰)╭ gesture toward Oscar and the others before following Ning Rongrong.

Once the two were out of earshot, Dai Mubai suddenly asked in a low voice: "What do you guys think? How long will it take for Le Bai to win a two-on-two fight using only his level 22 Soul Power?"

Oscar thought for a moment: "Even for Le Bai, if he's restricted to level 22 Soul Power, it should take at least a minute. If both opponents are level 29, it'll be even harder; it might drag on to three minutes."

"I think that sounds about right."

Dai Mubai agreed with Oscar's estimate and asked Ma Hongjun, who was still deep in thought: "What are you thinking about for so long?"

"Hmm... I think, if it's Le Bai, even if he runs into level 29 opponents, it should only take him... 10 seconds."

Ma Hongjun nodded as he spoke: "Yeah, 10 seconds at most. Anything longer than that means Le Bai wasn't going all out."

"You still have so much faith in Le Bai!"

Dai Mubai looked at Ma Hongjun with an amused expression: "If you guess wrong later, you're treating me and Little Ao to a meal!"

Ma Hongjun countered: "And what if you two guess wrong, or we all guess wrong?"

"If Little Ao and I are wrong but you're right, then we'll both treat you to a meal."

Dai Mubai laughed: "If we all guess wrong..."

"Then we'll just pretend nothing happened."

Oscar said while picking his nose.

At the front desk, Le Bai and Ning Rongrong handed over their badges. Le Bai, being more familiar with the procedures, took the lead: "Hello, I'd like to ask: is team registration mandatory for a two-on-two Soul Fight application?"

"Yes, it is."

The Great Soul Arena staff member replied with an expressionless face: "And once a team is registered, it cannot be changed. Unless you cancel the original information, pay the registration fee again, and re-register. That would result in the forfeiture of all previously earned records. Furthermore, in principle, re-registration is not allowed if your points are negative."

Le Bai nodded to show he understood: "Then, is there an option for temporary teams? For example, if two people just want to experience a two-on-two fight once to see if they are compatible as teammates. This situation shouldn't be uncommon; does the Great Soul Arena have any measures for this?"

"Sorry, we do not."

The staff member remained expressionless: "Whether you are suitable as teammates is not something the Great Soul Arena needs to consider. You can test that outside the arena, confirm your compatibility, and then come here to register."

Ning Rongrong had only registered today, so it was just a matter of paying the fee again.

But Le Bai had already won 10 matches in a row and was on the verge of ranking up, yet because of Ning Rongrong, he had to cancel his registration...

"What, can't bear to part with a Copper badge?"

Ning Rongrong sneered: "And you still want me to be impressed?"

"Don't misunderstand, it's not the Copper badge I can't bear to part with."

Le Bai said seriously: "It's the extra rewards from my current 10-match winning streak!"

"I don't care!"

Ning Rongrong crossed her arms: "I've already made my request; whether you do it or not is your business."

"Sigh, fine."

Le Bai took out his badge, prepared to hand it to the staff member, then turned to ask Ning Rongrong: "Let's think of a team name. Even if it's just a temporary team with you, we still need one."

"No need."

Ning Rongrong refused, "Teaming up with you is limited to just tonight."

"Alright."

Le Bai handed over his Iron badge, which was already eligible for an upgrade, and said, "The team name is Exclamation Team."

"Understood."

With a series of practiced movements, the staff member engraved the team name onto both Iron badges and handed them back, "Registration is complete. From now on, the two of you may use the name Exclamation Team to register for two-on-two soul fights."

Le Bai said, "Register us immediately; we'll have a match tonight."

Another series of practiced, rapid movements followed.

"Registration complete."

The staff member pushed the badges back, "Your two-on-two soul fight will begin at Soul Fighting Platform No. 34. Please prepare in advance. If you miss the fight time, it will be assumed that you have forfeited the match, so please be sure to pay attention."

"Thanks for the reminder, I will keep that in mind."

Le Bai nodded in thanks and took the badges.

Ning Rongrong silently picked up her badge and followed Le Bai for a distance before snapping, "You were really polite to that front desk staff member, even though he isn't even a Soul Master."

"It's just basic courtesy."

Le Bai turned his head to look at Ning Rongrong and said, "If the staff member just now had followed the regulations strictly, he would have had no obligation to remind me to watch the time. But he did, and even if it was just a casual mention, it was an extra 'favor' to us—a form of goodwill. Whether I accept that goodwill or not, a casual 'thank you' costs me nothing. But to him, it signifies respect."

Ning Rongrong scoffed at this, "Do ordinary people even deserve respect from a Soul Master?"

"It has nothing to do with whether one is a Soul Master or not."

Le Bai turned back around and continued walking forward, "Only by knowing how to respect others can one earn the respect of others."

I received a notification that the story will be featured starting the afternoon of October 4th. Following industry custom, I will be adding extra chapters.

However, three chapters a day is already at my limit; any more would affect the quality of the work.

Therefore, I will extend the number of days for the extra chapters.